I am not going to participate in the WoW anymore...I'm out of jokes...just kidding! I just think I am hard enough on myself, knowing all my failings, I don't need to share that part of my life with the world. I have stayed the same not gained any, but not lost any either. I have not met my goal of exercising 3x this week, knowing for weight loss, I'd need to at least exercise 5x/week. This WoW thing has caused me to pause these past couple weeks though. Pause and think about the disorder in my life. I DO believe God is a God of order. I DO believe He wants us to be orderly.
"since he is not the God of disorder but of peace." -1 Corinthians 14:33
"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to see, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What advantage has the worker from his toil? I have considered the task which God has appointed for men to be busied about. He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done."
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
I go to bed late, get up late, I have no particular time to do either. I Do get everything done, amazingly, but always feel rushed and not at peace with all I do have to do each day. Because it is not orderly. I am always rushing to wherever we have to go, always late, always in a hurry. Because my life is not orderly. I don't want my children to grow up having that rush and panic feeling every time they have to go somewhere. I have noticed the first thing they say when getting into the van is "Are we going to be late?" They are too young to worry about that. I am causing this worry, this anxiety at their young age, because of my disorder.
This morning I ordered M.O.T.H. Managers of Their Homes. It is similar to Holly Pierlot's book A Mother's Rule of Life only it gives many examples of schedules. It gives (for me) a clearer way of making it my own schedule. My friend, Sarah, introduced it to me last Summer, but we were selling our home and getting ready to move and a schedule was far from my mind, so it never got ordered. She loves it. She has her own schedule and it works for her. I need to find my schedule, my order. (This book is not Catholic, but you can fill in your prayers in their "devotion" time)
After ordering this book, (finally) I read Jessica's blog post today and she led me to 2 Excellent posts by Elizabeth Foss on exactly what I've been struggling with! (not the mess, just the disorder of what I do when) I know these posts are kind of lengthy, but they are well worth the read! Thank you Regina for hosting WoW and helping me to pause, to find what needs to change in my life.
Jamie - I have this book, too. I've read all I can about organization, just hoping to glean a little tip here or there. It all started with FlyLady when I was pregnant with my third in 2003 and I've added to it with MROL & MOTH. Most people would look at me and say I'm organized, and I may be more than some, but I don't FEEL organized and struggle with some of the same things you expressed. Just reading through some of your posts, I see that you do some really neat things with your kids - the crafts, baking, etc. I'd really like to be able to do those things! Maybe I'll take another look at my schedule . . . We schedule school well, at our home, but maybe I need to include that special time that you've joyfully showed on your blog.
ReplyDeletei hope we at WoW didnt provide any unwanted pressure. dont feel bad about dropping out (if you are, i am not sure since you later said just kidding but then went on to sound like you were).
ReplyDeletei too feel the sting of disorganization. if only i could get it all together :)
r
Weren't those posts amazing!!
ReplyDeleteOrder is SO important, isn't it... It is something I struggle with constantly!!
It's funny that you mentioned MOTH! I just pulled it of the bookshelf THIS PAST WEEKEND to start making a schedule! (I LOVE the Sample Schedules in the back!) However, I always put things off till I can do it right (at least in my opinion), plus I always worry about becoming so scheduled that I am not flexible (although I am SURE that that is just an excuse!) so I didn't get very far with that schedule last weekend. You've inspired me to keep working on it.
Thanks!!!!
Hi Jamie. You are so hard on yourself. Like Suzie said you do such neat things with your kids & cook great Stuff too. Do you think the MOTH book would help a non-
ReplyDeletehomeschooling person such as myself? I certainly could use some help even tho' my chicks are out of the nest. Luv, Nerm
Oh, my goodness, you are ALL too nice to me!!
ReplyDeleteSuzie- yes, people will come here and say "you are so organized" and I laugh...I don't FEEL organized. It's that feeling of all that needs to be done. I think a time for all might help with that?
Regina--I was just kidding about not having any more jokes but yes, I am dropping out. I think once school is done, there will be this open space of time to exercise...we'll see!
Jessica- here I thought was introducing something new, MOTH seems to not get mentioned.
Nerm--not sure if it would help you, I will let you know, I just looked at it a little last Summer! Your chicks are gone, but you are taking care of your mother and I'm sure it would be helpful.
I've noticed that too Jamie, at least in Catholic circles. Maybe since it isn't Catholic?? I love MROL, but MOTH is much better for actually planning out the schedule, at least it appears that way! ;)
ReplyDeleteI had been planning on ordering it for a long time, and then was thrilled when a friend of mine asked me to go through some things she was getting rid of, and it was in there!! Now, I just need to implement it. Maybe since we are all sick--this would be a good time to work on it?? I don't know! I would love to hear your thoughts once you get started!